Game-changer on attitude toward public fund

Since this government emerged and launched its “fight against corruption” so many changes have been felt and numerous others manifested. Remarkably, virtually every aspect has been touched. The center nerve of the existence of every government is to provide adequate welfare for its citizenry. These include access to government stuff without pay or bribe.

I observed that many politicians that have diverted public fund return it back to the government and collection of bribe since then from any citizen whether public or civil servant in the name of favors or for job attracts sanction. Such sanctions are sporadically established to all and sundry who were found guilty in such act, I heard cases of many workers been sacked from their place of work due to collection of bribes thus the rate of corruption continues to reduce because many civil servants are afraid of losing their jobs.

This campaign was supported with the “change begins with me” which implies that change begins from every finger of a patriotic citizen. With the introduction of the “Treasury Single Account” (TSA), it serves as a link between the government and revenue that were formerly embezzled. For instance registering for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board ( JAMB), or paying school fees in higher institution now goes direct to the Federal Government account at the specific price government fixed. With any intermediary it will increase token on the government decided price. Due to the introduction of this TSA, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) raises huge amount of fund to the federal government which was never made since its establishment which I think is due to the elimination of the intermediary between the candidates of JAMB and the federal government.

Since the launching of this campaign I heard that many applicants and graduates have gotten job without paying any kobo to anyone but based on their merit and experience. And government always advises any applicant not to pay any civil servant for government jobs and if you are asked by any civil servant to give any form of bribe you should report such person to government.

Now, looking at the issue of paying a high ranking officer, heads of government parastatal or agencies before you get a job have gone because of the fight against corruption which if any such officer is found will face the law.

Before this administration launched the fight against corruption, I observed that some politicians are fond of diverting government funds for their personal use and many government workers take public properties to their houses for their personal use. The bank verification number (BVN) introduced by the government has helped to address the issue of multiple accounts thereby putting a stop to ghost workers or individuals using their children’s name to collect multiple salaries. Kudos to the giant effort we pray for better things in years to come as Nigeria remains the only place we can call a home, it is the collective responsibility of all to solve its hurdles and accelerate its development

Dzarma Bitrus is a 300 level student of the Department of Mass Communication University Of Maiduguri.